by Sadie Grubor
Lilli laughed loudly and Livy jerked. "Stop it!" She laughed. "He’s not a doll."
Sarah had agreed to stay with us for a week and a half. The first night home was interesting. We were up every couple of hours to change, feed, rock and soothe the twins back to sleep. However, we were up to the challenge.
The second night, Lilli was falling asleep while she was feeding the babies at four in the morning. Sarah had to keep tapping her on the shoulder to keep her awake.
The third night, I let Lilli sleep while Sarah and I took care of the babies. Lilli had pumped earlier in the day to start building up a supply so that I could help out more with feeding time.
The fourth night, Lilli let me sleep while her and Sarah took care of everything.
The fifth night, we let Sarah sleep and handled the babies throughout the night.
After our first full week at home, we had hoped that we would have Walsh and Livy sleeping better at night. Unfortunately, when it comes to newborns, not everything goes as planned. They still had odd sleeping patterns and we couldn’t figure it out.
Sarah left to go back to Canada and I began my two weeks of working from home.
Lilli began interviewing women from different nanny services. I had to insist that she look for a live-in nanny. She wasn’t happy about ‘hiring someone for around the clock services when she was fully capable’, but finally relented when I mentioned her going back to work with the foundation.
The first few interviews had not gone well. Lilli made some phone calls to different agencies in the area hoping for better applicants. When that didn’t work out, she resorted to about five hours of online research and phone calls in order to find reliable information for hiring a nanny.
I had suggested calling Elora to find out about their nanny, Mya. Lilli then told me that they had lucked out in finding a college student with classes only three nights a week. It was perfect for Elora, but wouldn’t work out for us.
A week, and multiple exhausting nights, later, Lilli found Kimberly. Kimberly was a forty-five year old divorcee who had been a kindergarten teacher during her twenties and thirties. She was the mother of one thirteen year old son, which Lilli immediately figured could move in here as well.
Three days after I met Kimberly and her son Peter, we hired her. We decided to renovate the third floor to fit in another bedroom suite like Rachel and Alex’s. We needed to tear down a couple of walls, install some doors, install a kitchen and add on a second bathroom for Peter. It took a little over a week to get everything set up.
Kimberly and Peter moved into the house and it was almost odd at how quickly they acclimated to the family. Alex looked to Peter like an older brother, and Rachel and Kimberly seemed to have a lot in common.
Lilli was so happy with Kimberly that I saw an immediate change in her. She started to relax a little more, which she needed.
Kimberly had also helped us achieve what had felt like the impossible. The babies slept almost an entire night, five hours straight. All she did was put them in the same crib together.
She explained that since they had spent all of their time together inside of Lilli, it was only natural to miss that presence. She would eventually put them in separate cribs, moving them side by side and slowly working the cribs apart. But, for now, as infants, it was perfect for them. We couldn’t have agreed more.
"You know, you pay me to get up with them." Kimberly laughed quietly as I sat feeding Walsh in the rocking chair.
"I know, but it’s my last few days of being home with them." My voice sounded just as sad as I felt about being gone all day.
"It’s really nice to see a father take such an active role with his children." She smiled at me warmly.
"I’m sure that my lifestyle makes it easier for me to do so." I shrugged.
"Ah, even so, not all men would sit up at night as you do." She patted my shoulder and went to check on Livy.
The days passed and soon I had to return to work. I headed to the twins room to tell Lilli and the babies good bye. As I entered, I looked around the room but didn’t find Lilli. I leaned into the crib and kissed both of the twins. As I was walking back to their door, I heard a noise in the bathroom.
I walked toward the door and knocked. "Lilli?" I could hear a buzzing noise.
"Yeah?" She called through the door. I tried the doorknob but it was locked.
"What are you doing?" I knocked lightly.
"Um…pumping." I could almost see the blush on her face as she said it.
I swallowed down the chuckle that threatened to pop through my lips. "Can you open up? I’m leaving for work."
Nothing. No response and no sound of her opening the door. "Just give me one minute, okay? I’m almost finished."
"I could care less that you are—"
"I am not opening this door until I can cover up." She cut me off with a firm tone.
I sighed. "Okay."
Two minutes later she came out of the bathroom, leaving the door halfway open. I could see the pump on the counter.
She put her arms around my shoulders and kissed me. Trying to pull away from me, I grabbed her and deepened the kiss, my hands starting to roam. My hands were just below her breasts,
"Aidan…" she mumbled against my lips. I put my hand out to the side, palms toward her. She giggled and pulled away from the kiss.
"Have a good day." She smiled and turned toward the bathroom.
"You, too. I won’t be staying late tonight, so I should be home before six." I smiled at her.
"If you need to stay then I under…"
"I have already informed everyone that I would not be staying late like I used to now that the twins have arrived." My voice and face had gone completely serious. She simply nodded and went back into the bathroom. I heard the buzzing sound of the machine begin as I left the nursery.
After grabbing some coffee, I headed toward the door.
I was surprised to see Loreley standing in our foyer, Jay taking her coat.
Chapter Seven
How Do I Mend a Broken Heart?
Lilli
Once Aidan had gone, I heard Kimberly enter the room while I was finishing up in the bathroom.
"Good morning." I whispered to Kimberly, trying to not wake the twins. She smiled warmly and I exited the room. I was halfway down the stairs when I heard Loreley's voice.
"Loreley." I smiled and walked toward her.
"Lilli." She smiled back and placed her hands on my biceps, kissing each cheek. She stood back and appraised me. "You look fantastic!"
"Thank you, but I'll definitely feel better when I can start to work off some of this extra weight." I huffed out. I motioned for her to follow me toward the dining room.
"Non-sense, dear, you look amazing." She followed along behind me.
We sat down around the table as Jay brought the food out to us. I smiled my thanks to Jay before turning back to Loreley.
"Loreley, I really want to thank you again for telling us about—"
"It was honestly my pleasure." She smiled warmly.
I furrowed my brow. The reason I had called Loreley to come over was simple. I was wondering why she had helped us by providing the information. I knew that the Iverson's were not exactly friends of her family.
"What is it?" She asked curiously, mirroring my furrowed brow.
"Um, I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but why did you help Aidan and me? Why would you provide that information to us? I know that your family—"
"I know that our families are not exactly friendly and I am also well aware of what people say about me; the cold, callus, manipulating bitch. However, and I am being honest, I had that information for almost a week before I finally called Aidan." She laughed a little at her admission. "But, I just couldn't, as a woman, keep that from you. You hadn't done anything other than marrying into this family. Hell, to me, you were simply just another woman until we spoke at the charity ball." I raised my brow at her.
"Yes, it was only for a s
hort moment, but you didn't shy away from the conversation with me as most people do. Especially, the Iverson's and those that are associated with them." A small smiled played on her lips.
"A week?"
She nodded. "I'm far from perfect, dear."
I nodded with a small smile and we continued small conversation during breakfast. Though I had been a little concerned with her admission of holding information, I appreciated her honesty.
Slowly, over the next few months, Loreley and I became frequent associates, having brunches and lunches together. It had been a great way for me to get out of the house for a little bit, aside from when I met up with Phoebe, Celia or Viola.
Viola was very up front in warning me about Loreley.
"Lilli, dear, you have to be very careful. I know that she may seem friendly but I assure you that, given the chance, she would push you down an elevator shaft if it suited her." Viola put her water glass to her lips.
"How very 'soap opera' of you to say." I giggled out.
"I'm serious." She tried not to crack a smile at my comment.
"Thank you for worrying but I can assure you that I am being careful with Loreley. Honestly, our time revolves around simple gossip and casual topics. We do not discuss families." I shrugged and put the forkful of lettuce into my mouth.
Viola leaned forward and covered my hand with hers. "Please be careful." I smiled in acknowledgment.
Aidan was my other obstacle when it came to Loreley. He didn't hide his distaste for Loreley's presence in our home.
"Why do you insist on associating with her?" He growled.
"I really don't see how you can take your hatred of Gideon out on her! She is the one who called you to tell you about the birth control pills. I think you owe her a little bit of gratitude." I argued.
"You don't know them, Lilli. Or what they are capable of." He sighed and plopped down onto the bed, his head in his hands.
I scooted across the bed on my knees and pressed my chest to his back, wrapping my arms around him.
"We aren't the best of friends or anything. She is simply a casual friend." I kissed the side of his neck.
"If she hurts you, I will kill her." He picked up my hand and kissed the back of it before holding it to his chest tightly.
I ruffled his hair as I started to pull away. He quickly rolled around, pulling me down to the bed and crawling over me.
I could feel his lips pressing against me through my nightgown as he ascended my body. When he got between my breasts he lingered, lightly brushing his nose over my hardened nipples.
I could hear the low rumble in his chest as he pushed aside the lacy trim and slid his fingers across my overheated skin. My breathing hitched as his tongue darted under the material and over my nipple.
"Aidan..." I moaned.
"Shh..." He murmured against my skin. "I want you so badly." his voice still muffled by my skin.
I slid my leg under his body, drawing him between mine. Lacing my fingers into his hair, I gripped roughly as his mouth closed over my nipple and his sucking increased in strength. At first, I grimaced at the raw soreness of my nipples from pumping and breast feeding, but eventually it gave way into bliss.
I moved my hips forward, seeking friction between my legs. Aidan realized quickly what I was looking for and pressed his body into me. Grinding against each other, he moved his mouth to my neck and over my jaw. I could feel his hard length against me, rocking into me with a familiar rhythm.
His mouth locked onto mine. I could taste Aidan mixed with the sour milky taste of breast milk as he ravaged my mouth. Soon his fingers were slipping agonizingly slow up my thigh, dipping into my underwear. He grasped and yanked my panties down to my knees by the crotch before slipping his fingers between my wet folds, massaging the swollen lips and briefly rubbing my swollen, sensitive clit. My back arched up off of the mattress and I could feel Aidan's smug smirk against my lips.
Moving his lips back to my neck, I gasped out.
"Mmmm...so fucking hot and ready as always." He growled. I wrapped my legs around him, trying to pull him closer to me. He shoved my underwear all the way off and quickly divulged himself of his own.
Positioning at my entrance, he hesitated and looked into my eyes. I grabbed his face and kissed him deeply as I pulled him into me with my legs. The scream that escaped my lips as he filled me caused my head to snap back so far that I was almost looking at the headboard upside down.
"Ooohhhh ffuckkkkk!" He pulled out and then thrust back into me. I gripped his forearms tighter and tighter.
The rumble in Aidan's chest exploded from his lips in heavy grunts and moans.
"Fuck Lilli...so good...Fuck, I've missed this...oh god....Yes...scream for me baby....fuck!" With each quickening thrust he groaned out something else.
When his forehead pressed to my chest and his breathing became more labored I could tell that he was close. Placing my feet flat on the mattress next to his body, I pushed my hips up to meet each thrust.
"Shit...Fuck...Lilli...if you keep...OH FUCK...can't stop..." soon the last guttural moan erupted from within him as he released inside of me. I kept my hips moving to help him ride out his orgasm.
"I love you." He whispered into my skin.
"I love you, too." I ran my fingers through his hair.
He propped his head up, his chin between my breasts.
"Can I just say how much I love that I can fuck you again?" He smirked and then crawled up my body. "Are you okay?"
I nodded and smiled. Then I kissed his lips lightly. We curled up next to each other and fell asleep until the first cry woke me early the next morning.
Aidan was definitely happy about sex being reestablished between us. After that night, he took me at any chance that he could: the stairs, the library, his desk in his office, our bedroom, our shower, the closet; any and everywhere that he could.
While Aidan still wasn't thrilled that I associated with Loreley, he had become more cordial toward her when they crossed paths. I was thankful he was at least attempting to be pleasant. Loreley and I had truly found a common ground that didn't involve anything that dealt with family other than talking about the twins.
Soon December had arrived and everyone was preparing for Christmas. Viola and I had been out shopping for the past three weeks; getting gifts for the children's homes, as well as decorations and celebratory foods. It was so much fun knowing that everything we bought would be going to the children, some of which who had never experienced Christmas. We had even hired an actor to dress as Santa and visit the homes. I was excited to take the twins with us on that visit.
I had also gone shopping with Elora, Celia and Phoebe. Shopping with Dixon, however, had been the most interesting experience.
"Dixon, as much as Celia loves you, and cars, I do not think that she wants a model car." I tried not to laugh at his suggestion.
"It's only part of the gift, Lilli." He rolled his eyes.
"Um, Dixon..?"
"Trust me, okay?"
"I still think that she won't want to put that together as much as you think." I smiled and rubbed his arm.
"Listen, this BMW is her favorite and I intend to put it together for her." He beamed.
"Oh Dixon...that's romantic...sort of."
"Well, it's the next stop that adds the big wow factor." He smiled with a cocky swagger to his step.
"And that stop would be...?" I pressed, standing by his side as the cashier handed him back his card and the bag with the model car.
"Tiffany's of course."
"Oh my God, Dixon! Really?"
I was jumping up and down, so excited that I might faint. Happy to have the stroller to hold onto, I grabbed it for balance.
"Yep! My baby is getting some awesome diamond earrings!"
I froze. Dixon kept walking.
"Earrings?" I questioned, rushing to catch up with him on the crowded street.
He nodded eagerly and then took the stroller to get us across the street to
Tiffany’s. As we entered the store, he continued on.
"I'm going to put the earrings inside the car, like on the steering wheel or something, so she sees them after she opens the car."
"Dixon, that's really sweet." I forced enthusiasm. Honestly, I was disappointed it wasn't a ring.
"What can I say? I am just a big pile of sweetness!" Chuckling, he looked down over the selection of earrings.
I sighed louder than intended. He looked up from the jewelry case.
"Alright, what is going on over there?" He asked, after pointing to a pair of half carat earrings.
"Nothing." I smiled.
He smirked.
"Will that be all, sir?" The attendant asked, stuffing the earrings into the signature Tiffany's box.
"Actually, I will need one more thing..." He hesitated.
I looked up and could tell he was watching me from the corner of his eye. "I'll need to see something in a diamond engagement ring."
"Dixon!" I shouted, smacking him in the arm. "Damn you." I hissed.
He was laughing wildly.
"Oh, shit, Lil, you should've seen your face...too damn funny." He kept chuckling.
"That was so not funny, you jerk." I laughed then realized everyone was staring at us.
"Yes it was." He grabbed the stroller and pushed it down to where the attendant waited to show him rings. "Now, help me pick out a ring for my future wife." He grinned.
I wrapped my arm in his as we headed to the counter of engagement rings.
Christmas Eve was spent at Viola's with the family. The twins were now four months old and starting to really show their personalities. Walsh was the loud one where Livy was quiet and shy. Livy really didn't care for men. Only Aidan could hold her without her fussing. Other than that, men seemed to trigger something in her.
Abby was fully pregnant and quite tired. Everyone watched her closely, waiting for any sign that she was in labor. Liam was surprisingly more watchful of her than anyone else. Viola stated that he was the same way when she was pregnant with Maggie. Something just kicks in and he can't help but be attentive to pregnant women.